West Ham 3 Liverpool 1: Liverpool outmanoeuvred, out muscled, out fought

by Kop-Post and Jan Thomson

Two victories and two losses in our first four games, a stuttering performance against Ludogorets in mid-week where we stumbled across the line thanks to Steven Gerrard’s late penalty meant going into the game against a resurgent West Ham a loss could see Brendan Rodgers side already three wins behind a Chelsea side by the end of this weekend’s games.

Still without the injured Daniel Sturridge, Emre Can and Joe Allen, Rodgers looked to instil some solidity to his team defensively by welcoming back from injury Martin Skrtel to partner Dejan Lovren in the centre of defence and Lucas Leiva to bolster the creaking midfield.  Fabio Borini made his first start in two years after looking all but a Sunderland during the summer.  Lallana and Markovic started on the bench with Philippe Countinho after his poor start to the season left out altogether.

The changes made not a lot of difference as West Ham caught Liverpool cold.  Downing swung in a free-kick from the right to the far post finding Tompkins towering over Henderson to header across the goal for Winston Reid to bundle the ball home from a yard.  It was appalling defending, but unfortunately the type of defending we’ve seen all too much of over the last year.

Worst was to come.  The West Ham midfield swarming all over Lucas and Gerrard  dispossessed Balotelli on half-way and Noble with very little threat in front of him found Diafra Sakho on the right and driving in the wide-man delivered a chip of superb accuracy which floated over the stranded Mignolet and into the corner of the net.  West Ham were rampant with Mignolet pulling off a smart save from Cresswell’s long range drive.

Gerrard looks shell-shocked as Reid celebrates West Ham's opener

Yet again Steven Gerrard was afforded very little space to impact the game with West Ham yards quicker in every department not allowing Liverpool to build from the back and targeting Liverpool’s full-backs with their lack of height. 

Looking lightweight, without quality and stuck in first gear we struggled to mount even one attack of any quality and such was the impotent nature of Liverpool’s play and the pressure being placed on Manquillo that Rodgers chose to substitute the youngster for Mamadou Sakho after only 22 minutes.

After just five minutes later the change bore fruit.  Henderson crossed from the left and Balotelli put out a telescopic right leg to bring down as it went across him.  Turning to shoot, his effort was blocked, but running in on the edge the area Raheem Sterling hit the ball on the top of its bounce to rifle the ball into the corner of the net in stunning fashion.

West Ham were still putting the Liverpool defence under pressure and one flowing move was only ended by a last ditch tackle by Moreno in front of goal.    Ten minutes from the end of the half Rodgers predicament almost hit the buffers as Lovren and Sakho unbelievably showed their lack of understanding at Spurs had not improved colliding going for the same high ball which resulted in Lovren requiring treatment but thankfully being able to continue.

A much brighter starter in the second-half led by Lallana coming on for the evermore static Lucas who in tandem with Gerrard struggled to contain the power and speed of the more  dynamic and competitive West Ham midfield.   We may just be seeing the long goodbye of Lucas Liverpool career with the vitality of the more creative Lallana and the impact of his injuries of the last few seasons.

The ex-Southampton man had a penalty claim dismissed with Borini curling just over from the resultant breaking ball.  Balotelli out of nothing shifted the ball past the defender firing in a shot which Adrian shovelled round the post.

Lallana, now with Sterling instrumental in Liverpool’s creative play found the marauding Moreno on the left, his dangerous low cross failed to find a Liverpool player in the box.  It was Liverpool’s last remaining chance of any note.

With bundles of possession Liverpool and very little cutting edge and with four minutes left a comedic header by Sakho found Downing who poignantly delivered an excellent run and pass leaving Steven Gerrard floundering and  Amfalfitano to evade Skrtel’s last ditched tackle to toe poke home for West Ham’s winner.  It was no more than West Ham deserved.

Teams:

West Ham: 13 Adrian, 3 Cresswell, 20 Demel (Jenkinson - 61 mins), 2 Reid, 5 Tomkins, 16 Noble, 30 Song (Amalfitano - 69 mins), 8 Kouyate, 15 Sakho, 31 E Valencia (Collins - 76 mins)

Substitutes: 10 Zarate, 12 Vaz Te, 18 Jenkinson, 19 Collins, 21 Amalfitano, 22 Jaaskelainen, 24 Cole

Liverpool: 22 Mignolet, 18 Moreno, 19 Manquillo (Sakho - 22 mins), 37 Skrtel, 6 Lovren, 8 Gerrard, 31 Sterling, 21 Lucas (Lallana - 45 mins), 14 Henderson, 29 Borini (Lambert - 75 mins), 45 Balotelli

Substitues: 1 Jones, 3 Jose Enrique, 4 K Toure, 9 Lambert, 17 Mamadou Sakho, 20 Lallana, 15 Markovic

Referee: Craig Pawson

Attendance: 34,977